The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-13
In the House.

In the House to-day the special order, the
resolution by Mr.. Gambler, of DeKalb, TO pro-
tect the property of the Western and Allan
tic railroad, was taken up. The resolution
declared that it was the imperative duty of
the General Assembly, in view of the recent
disclosures made by the lessees through
their President, TO protect the States prop
erty and that the lessees have no claim
in law or equity for betterments,
and that none will be entertained
or allowed. The remainder of the resolution
provided for the appointment of a board
of three commissioners to go over the rail
road and take an inventory of the property
and if any effort is made to remove any of
the property or in any way impair its value
the Governor shall seize the property and
manage and operate the same until the next
session of the Legislature. The two sections
of the resolution were adopted without
much oppositioD. When the remaining
resolutions had been read Mr.. Berner moved
that the committee report the resolutions
back to the House, with recommendation
that they pass.
Mr.. Arnheim moved as substitute that
the committee report the bill back with
recommendation that it do not pass, Mr..
Arnheim opposed the resolutions. He said
that they were directed at the property of
the Western and Atlantic railroad and
Mr.. Candler said that the reason given by
Mr. Arnheim was the very reason why the
resolution should pass Ii we want to pro-
teet the property of the State we must get
at it in direct way. He Intended to vote
for everything, whether direct or in a
roundabout way, that will look to
the protection of the property.
The gentleman from Dougherty wanted to
sit quietly by and il the lessees wreck the
IIa
not want the lessees TO wreck the property
and proposed to do all in his power to pro
tect the property from injury.
BERNER's MOTION CARRIED.
The substitute by Mr.. Arnheim was lost
and the motion by Mr.. Berner prevailed.
The resolutions then came before the
House with favorable report and recon-
mendation that they pass.
Mr.. Huff, of Bibb, offered an amendment
to strike out section 3 and insert section
providing that the commission shall consist
of two experienced railroad men and one
real estate expert whose duty it shall be to
appraise the property.
Mr. Rawls, of Effingham, offered TO
amend the resolutions so as to enlist the SER
vices of the lessees in making out an inven-
tory of the property.
Mr. Gambler said that he thought that the
commission could get along very well with
out the assistance of the lessees, and proba-
bly, better without them than with them.
He believed that the property of the West
ern and Atlantic railroad belonged to the
State, aud it was the business OF the House
to see that the States interests were pro-
tected The amendment offered by Mr.
Rawls was just.
THE RESOLUTIONS PASS.
Mr.. Schofeid. Of Bibb, called the pre-
vious question, which was sustained
While the call was progressing aud when
the name Of Mr. Harrison, of Quitman, was
called that gentleman devoted his moments
to an argument against the passage of the
resolution He stated, among other things,
that the passage of the resolution yesterday
requiring the lesses to make a new bond
for which he did not vote was enough
protection, together with the fact that
Senator Brown could be trusted to deal
fairly with the State The resolutions as
nmended was passed by vote OF l01 yeas
to 32 nays.
The resolutions as passed read:
Resolved, BY the House Of Representatives,
the Senate concurring:
T. That IL is the imperative duty Of this Gen
eral Assembly, in view of the recent disclos-
urrs made by the President of the present les
see company, to protect the Western and At
lantic railroad.
2 That the present lessees of the Western
and Atlantic railroad have no claim either In
law or equity against the State for betterments
and that no such claim will be entertained or
allowed by the State Of Georgia.
g. That the Governor be authorized and di-
rected TO appoint two practical and experienced
railroad men, not connected as stockholders
with any railroad, and one wel-lsnown and ex-
perienced real estate dealer, who shall oil be
citizens OF the State OF Georgia. These three
citizens shall constitute a commission for the
purpose of taking and making full and com
plete inventory or schedule Of ell the property
both real and personal, now belonging TO the
Western and Atlantic railroad. This .nrentory
shall show the exact condition Of all the prop
erty, OF every kind and character, belonging TO
and owned by said railroad, and along the line
Of said railroad. The inventory or schedule
must also show the present market value
Of all this property, both In detail and
IN bulk This estimate placed on the
personal property and the real estate necessary
70 the successful operation Of the road must be
made in one report and the estimates placed on
the surplus real estate belonging TO or In any
way connected with the said road must be made
In another. A copy Of this inventory shall be
filed in the Office Of the Conptroir General.